Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Tajik militant commander Muhammad Sharifov, also known as Mahdi Arsalon, wanted in Dushanbe on terrorism charges, has reportedly disappeared in Afghanistan, according to RFE/RL. Sources close to his relatives and friends revealed on January 8 that Sharifov went missing several months ago.
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the militant commander, aged 30, was reportedly appointed by the Taliban to oversee districts along the Tajik-Afghan border. He was given command over fighters belonging to the Ansarullah group. The presence of Ansarullah, primarily consisting of Tajiks not loyal to the Tajik government, near the mutual border raised concerns in Tajikistan.
In response to Tajikistan’s apprehensions, the Taliban leadership took a significant step by relocating Ansarullah fighters to alternative sites. This move was seemingly aimed at mitigating tensions with Dushanbe, indicating a strategic shift in the Taliban’s approach to ease geopolitical concerns in the region. The whereabouts and motivations behind Sharifov’s disappearance remain shrouded in mystery, adding a layer of intrigue to an already complex situation along the Tajik-Afghan border.
